OUR REVIEW & RATING ★★★½

X-Men First Class quotes have breathed new life and a youthful energy into a waning franchise. The multiple plotted script is intelligent, exciting and stylish with a subtle whit about it and the chemistry between the two leads, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, is what really makes the movie shine and stand out.

Verdict: This adaptation of Marvel’s popular comic book has succeeded in combining a strong emotional story with brilliant explosive action.

[first lines]Young Charles Xavier: Mother? What are you…? I thought you were a burglar!Mrs. Xavier: I didn’t mean to scare you darling. I was just getting a snack. Go back to bed.[Charles goes quiet and stares at his mother]Mrs. Xavier: What’s the matter? Go on? Back to bed.[Charles remains silent]Mrs. Xavier: I’ll make you a hot chocolate.Young Charles Xavier: Who are you? And what have you done with my mother?

[using his power to speak into Mrs. Xavier’s mind]Young Charles Xavier: My mother has never set foot in this kitchen, in her life. And she certainly never made me hot chocolate. Unless you count ordering the maid to do it.[suddenly Charles’s mother shifts shape and becomes a young Raven]Young Raven: You’re not…scared of me?Young Charles Xavier: I always believed I couldn’t be the only one in the world. The only person who was different. And here you are. Charles Xavier.[he extends his hand to introduce himself]Young Raven: Raven.Young Charles Xavier: You’re hungry and alone. Take whatever you want. We’ve got lots of food. You don’t have to steal. In fact, you never have to steal again.

[Shaw addresses young Erik in German in his office in a concentration camp]Sebastian Shaw:[subtitled] Understand this, Erik…These Nazis. I’m not like them. Genes are the key, yes? But their goals? Blue eyes? Blond hair? Pathetic. Eat the chocolate. It’s good. Want some?Young Erik:[subtitled] I want to see my mama.

[Shaw addresses young Erik in German in his office in a concentration camp]Sebastian Shaw:[subtitled] Genes are the key to the door leading into a new era, Erik. A new future for humanity. Evolution. You know what I mean? I’m not asking for much. A small coin, it’s nothing compared to the huge gates. Isn’t that right?[Erik tries to move the coin on the desk with his powers but fails]Young Erik:[subtitled] I’ve tried, sorry Doctor. I cannot…I do not…it is impossible.Sebastian Shaw: [subtitled] The only thing I can say in favor of the Nazis is that their methods are producing results. I’m sorry, Erik.

[Erik’s mother has been brought to Shaw’s office]Sebastian Shaw: [subtitled] Now this is what we will do. I count to three, and you move the coin. If you do not move the coin, I’ll pull the trigger.[Shaw points a gun at Erik’s mother]Sebastian Shaw: [subtitled] Do you understand?[Erik extends his hands and tries hard to move the coin with his powers]Sebastian Shaw: [subtitled] One.Young Erik:[subtitled] Mama!Erik’s Mother:[subtitled] You can do it.[the coin does not move]Sebastian Shaw: [subtitled] Two.[Erik looks at his mother]Erik’s Mother:[subtitled] It’s alright. It’s alright. It’s alright![Erik keeps trying to move the coin but fails]Sebastian Shaw: [subtitled] Three.[Shaw shoots and kills Erik’s mother]

[after his mother is killed a grief stricken Erik shows the full extent of his powers]Sebastian Shaw: [subtitled] Unbelievable, Erik. We have opened your gift with anger. Anger and pain. You and I are going to have a lot of fun.

[looking at a beautiful woman in a bar]Charles Xavier: Heterochromia.Amy: A gentleman would at least offer to buy me a drink first.[Charles turns to the barman]Charles Xavier: Norman? A pint of bitter for me and a brandy for the lady, please.Amy: How did you know that?Charles Xavier: A lucky guess. Name’s Xavier. Charles Xavier. How do you do?Amy: Amy.Charles Xavier: Heterochromia is in reference to your eyes, which I have to say are stunning. One green, one blue. It’s a mutation. It’s a very groovy mutation. I’ve got news for you, Amy. You are a mutant.Amy: First you proposition a girl and then you call her deformed. How is that seduction technique working for you?Charles Xavier: I’ll tell you in the morning.[Amy smiles and Charles laughs]Charles Xavier: No, seriously. You mustn’t knock it. Mutation took us from single cells organisms to being the dominant form of reproductive life on this planet. Infinite forms of variation with each generation, all through mutation.Amy: Then, let’s reclaim that word. Mutant and proud.

[to Raven]Amy: Charles here was telling me that I’m like one of the first sea creatures that grew legs.Charles Xavier: Tiny bit sexier.[they both laugh]Charles Xavier: I’m sorry this is my sister, Raven.Raven: Hi.Amy: Amy. And what are you studying?Raven: Waitressing.Amy: Ah![Raven turns one of her eyes to their natural yellow color]Amy: Oh, look! You have heterochromia too.Charles Xavier: Sorry, what?Amy: Well, look at her eye.[he looks at Raven and notices what she’s done]Charles Xavier: [annoyed] Right. Raven, get your coat, please.

Charles Xavier: Don’t talk to me. You did that on purpose!Raven: I did not!Charles Xavier: Yes you did!Raven: Why would I do it on purpose? You know I can’t control it sometimes. If I’m stressed or I’m tired.Charles Xavier: You seem to be doing a perfectly good job of it right now.

Raven: Mutant and proud! Or is that only the pretty mutations or invisible ones, like yours? But if you’re a freak, better hide!Charles Xavier: You’re being ridiculous. Look…look, I don’t mean to sound like an old fart.Raven: Which you are.Charles Xavier: Sometimes. But we talked about this, Raven. Small slip up is one thing, a big one does not bear thinking about.

[to herself]Raven: Mutant and Proud? If only!

Raven: Would you date me?Charles Xavier: Of course I would. Any young man would be lucky to have you. You are stunning.Raven: Looking like this?Charles Xavier: I…you…what?[he looks at her seeing her in her true form]Charles Xavier: Blue? You’re my oldest friend.Raven: I’m your only friend.Charles Xavier: Thank you, for that.Raven: Well?Charles Xavier: I’m incapable of thinking of you that way. I feel responsible for you. Anything else would just feel wrong.Raven: But what if you didn’t know me?Charles Xavier: Unfortunately I do know you. God! I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately. You’re awfully concerned with your looks.

[addressing Erik in French]Swiss Bank Manager:[subtitled] Possession of this gold is illegal. Do you want me to call the police?Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Let’s not play this game.Swiss Bank Manager:[subtitled] So where did you get if from?Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] From my friends. They recommended I come to your bank.Swiss Bank Manager:[subtitled] Understood. You know our terms, sir?Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Yes. And you should know mine. This gold is all that is left of my people. It was their property. Taken out of their teeth. This is blood money. And you can help me find the bastards responsible for it.

[the bank manager goes to touch the alarm button but Erik stops him with his powers]Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Do not touch the alarm. I need a Schmidt. Klaus Schmidt. Where is he?Swiss Bank Manager:[subtitled] Our clients leave no addresses. We do not…Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Not a bank?[Erik uses his power and opens the bank managers mouth]Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Metal fillings, huh? Not gold. Worried that someone might steal them?[in pain]Swiss Bank Manager:[subtitled] Argentina! Schmidt, in Argentina! Villa Gesell! I beg you![Erik pulls his metal filling from his teeth]Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Thank you.[turns to leave]Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] I would love to kill you. So remember, if you warn him about me, I will find you.

Raven: So, how does it feel to be a professor?Charles Xavier: Oh, don’t call me that! You don’t get to be called a professor unless you actually have a teaching position.Raven: I know. But it suits you.Charles Xavier: Oh, don’t say that! Do say let’s go have a drink first.Raven: Let’s go have a drink.Charles Xavier: Wonderful.

[meets the two German Nazis at a bar Villa Gesell, Argentina]2nd German/Tailor:[subtitled] I am a tailor. Have been my whole life. My father sewed the best costumes in Dusseldorf.Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] My parents are from Dusseldorf.2nd German/Tailor:[subtitled] What are their names?Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] They had no names. Their names were taken by…pig farmers and tailors.

[reading the inscription written on the knife that he’s just taken from the 1st German]Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Blood and honor. Which would you prefer to lose first?1st German:[subtitled] We only carried out orders.Erik Lehnsherr:[subtitled] Blood it is then.[he stabs the knife into the Germans hand]

[after he’s killed the barman and the 2nd German using his powers]1st German:[subtitled] Who…what are you?Erik Lehnsherr: Let’s just say I’m Frankenstein’s monster.[he gets up and walks over to look at the photo of Shaw mounted on the wall]Erik Lehnsherr: And I’m looking for my creator.[using his power he gets the gun from the dead barman, turns and shoots the 1st German]

Moira MacTaggert: I really need your help.Charles Xavier: All right.Moira MacTaggert: The kind of mutations that you were talking about in your thesis. I need to know if they may have already happened, in people alive today?[Charles reads her mind seeing the mutants she’s seen]Moira MacTaggert: Professor? I think we should just talk when you’re sober. Do you have any time tomorrow?Charles Xavier: Something tells me you already know the answer to your question. This is very important to me, and if I can help you, I will do my utmost.Moira MacTaggert: Thank you.

[as he watches Shaw absorb the energy from the bomb]Colonel Hendry: You’re one of them?Sebastian Shaw: Very astute of you, Colonel Hendry. Do you wanna guess what I can do? I’ve got the power to absorb energy. Keeps me young. That’s the boring part. The fun stuff is what I can do with it once I’ve got it.[he touches Hendry and sets him on fire]

CIA Director McCone: MacTaggert, you really think that some crackpot scientist is gonna make me believe in sparkly dames and vanishing men? You just bought yourself a one way ticket back to the typing pool. This meeting is over.[Moira gets up]Charles Xavier: Uh…please. Sit down, Agent MacTaggert. I didn’t really expect you to believe me, given that all you’d think about during my presentation was what sort of pie they were serving in the commissary. It’s apple pecan.

[to Moira]Charles Xavier: I haven’t been entirely honest with you, love. I’m sorry. You see, one of the many spectacular things my mutation allows me to do, is that I can read your mind.William Stryker Sr.: I’ve seen this before at a magic show. Are you gonna ask us to think of a number between one and ten now?Charles Xavier: No, Agent Stryker. Although I could ask you about your son, William, who you were thinking about. Which is very nice, but I think I’d rather ask you about the Jupiter missiles, America currently placing in Turkey.CIA Director McCone: He’s a Goddamn spy![to Moira]CIA Director McCone: You brought a Goddamn spy into this facility![as everyone is arguing suddenly Raven stands up and turns into her true form, then shifts into looking like Stryker and then back into her true form again]Charles Xavier: How’s that for a magic trick!Man In Black Suit: Best I’ve ever seen.

CIA Director McCone: I want them out of here. And locked down until I can figure out what to do.Man In Black Suit: My facility is off site. I’ll take ’em.

Man In Black Suit: I’ve always known that there were people like you out there. I’ve been the laughing stock of this agency for years, but I knew it! You’re gonna love my facility.Charles Xavier: That’s gonna have to wait.Man In Black Suit: Why?Charles Xavier: Agent MacTaggert has a lead on Sebastian Shaw, and if we don’t move now, apparently we’re gonna lose him.Man In Black Suit: What?Raven: Not only can he read minds, he can communicate with them as well.[Moira pulls up towards them in her car and Raven gets in]Charles Xavier: Moira and I have just had a lovely conversation.Moira MacTaggert: Yes. We did.Man In Black Suit: That is incredible! But…but I cannot take you anywhere else without permission from upstairs.Charles Xavier: Would you like to see one more magic trick?Man In Black Suit: Okay.[using his power]Charles Xavier: Get in the car.Man In Black Suit: Good idea.

[as Emma Frost stops him using his powers]Charles Xavier: I’ve lost Shaw. I’ve los…I’ve lost Shaw! The…there’s something blocking me. This has never happened to me before! I think there’s someone like me on that ship.Moira MacTaggert: Like you?Charles Xavier: Um…I’m sorry. A telepath. This is incredible! I could actually feel her inside my mind. I’m very sorry, but I don’t think I’m gonna be much help to you tonight. You’re on your own.

[as he jumps into the sea he speaks to Erik with his mind trying to stop him from killing Shaw]Charles Xavier: You can’t. You’ll drown. You have to let go. I know what this means to you, but you’re going to die. Please! Erik, calm you mind.

[after Charles has stopped Erik from trying to kill Shaw]Erik Lehnsherr: Who are you?Charles Xavier: My name’s Charles Xavier.Erik Lehnsherr: You were in my head! How did you do that?Charles Xavier: You have your tricks, I have mine. I’m like you. Just calm your mind!Erik Lehnsherr: I thought I was alone.Charles Xavier: You’re not alone. Erik, you’re not alone.

Man In Black Suit: Welcome to my facility. My mission has been to investigate the application of paranormal powers in military defense.Erik Lehnsherr: Or offense.Man In Black Suit: This guy, Shaw-Schmidt, whatever you wanna call him. He’s working with the Russians. We might need your help to stop him.Charles Xavier: Marvelous. So are we to be the CIA’s new mutant division, yes?Man In Black Suit: Something like that.

Man In Black Suit: Hank, these are the special new recruits I was telling you about. [to the others]Man In Black Suit: This is Hank McCoy, one of our most talented young researchers.Charles Xavier: How wonderful! Another mutant already here. [he goes to shake Hanks hand]Charles Xavier: Why didn’t you say?Man In Black Suit: Say what?Charles Xavier: Because you don’t know.[turning to Hank]Charles Xavier: I am so, so terribly sorry.Man In Black Suit: Hank?Hank McCoy: You didn’t ask, so I didn’t tell.

Raven: So your mutation is what? You’re super smart?Charles Xavier: I’ll say. Hank here graduated Harvard at the age of fifteen.Hank McCoy: I wished that’s all it was.Charles Xavier: You’re among friends now, Hank. You can show off.[Hank takes off his shoes and sock to reveal the mutation on his feet]

Emma Frost: If that telepath gets inside your head, he won’t be as much fun as I am.Sebastian Shaw: Already in hand, my love.[he gets up and goes to open a box and takes out a metal looking helmet]Sebastian Shaw: The Russians, made me this.[he puts on the helmet]Sebastian Shaw: So, what am I thinking?[Emma tries to read his mind but the metal helmet stops her getting access]Emma Frost: I don’t know.Sebastian Shaw: I was thinking that you are the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen in my life. And that this needs ice.[pointing to his glass]Sebastian Shaw: Fetch me some. There’s a good girl.

Hank McCoy: I promised myself I’d find a cure, ever since I was a little boy. You have no idea what I’d give to feel…normal.[at the same time]Raven: Normal.[the both smile]Raven: Charles has never understood. He’s different, but he’s never had to hide.

Raven: Hank, this serum that you’re making it doesn’t affect abilities, right? Just appearance. Normalizes it.Hank McCoy: Yeah. Raven: Do you think it would work on me?Hank McCoy: Yeah. Well, I can look into it if you like. I mean it’s the least I can do, after asking you to come down here with such a weird request.Raven: I have to admit, usually when guys ask me out they’re not after my blood.Hank McCoy: Uh, sor…sorry! I didn’t intend to be forward. I was just…well, I was excited. You know, the…the nature of your mutation. If any genes hold the key to changing it appearance, it’s yours.Raven: Hank, you weren’t being forward. That’s kind of what I meant.Hank McCoy: No. I’m just sorry if you thought I was.Raven: And I’m sorry that you weren’t.

[Raven moves closer to Hank]Raven: Go ahead. Take the blood.[he injects her with the needle to take blood and she winces from the pain]Hank McCoy: Sorry. Did I hurt you?[Raven leans closer to give Hank a kiss and just then Erik walks by]Erik Lehnsherr: Kinky! By the way, if I looked like you, I wouldn’t change a thing.

[Charles catches Erik leaving the CIA facility with Shaw’s file]Charles Xavier: From what I know about you, I’m surprised you managed to stay this long.Erik Lehnsherr: What do you know about me?Charles Xavier: Everything?Erik Lehnsherr: Then you’ll know to stay out of my head.[Erik turns to leave]Charles Xavier: I’m sorry, Erik. But I’ve seen what Shaw did to you. I felt your agony. I can help you.Erik Lehnsherr: I don’t need your help.Charles Xavier: Don’t kid yourself. You needed my help last night. It’s not just me you’re walking away from. Here you have the chance to be part of something much bigger than yourself. I won’t stop you leaving. I could, but I won’t.[Charles turns to leave, as he’s walking away]Erik Lehnsherr: Shaw’s got friends. You could do with some.

Man In Black Suit: Hank turned that radar installation into a transmitter. It’s designed to amplify brain waves, so you it could enhance your telepathic powers. Help us find other mutants for our division.Erik Lehnsherr: What if they don’t want to be found by you?[surprised to see the sudden appearance of Erik]Charles Xavier: Erik! You decided to stay.Erik Lehnsherr: If a new species is being discovered, it should be by its own kind. Charles and I find the mutants. No suits.Man In Black Suit: First of all, that’s my machine out there. Second of all, much more importantly, this is Charles’s decision. Charles is fine with the CIA being involved. Isn’t that right?Charles Xavier: No. I’m sorry, but I’m with Erik. We’ll find them alone.Man In Black Suit: What if I say no.Charles Xavier: Then good luck using your installation without me.

Hank McCoy: I, uh…call it, Cerebro.Charles Xavier: [laughing] You…? Hank McCoy: As in the Spanish for brain.Charles Xavier: Yes.Hank McCoy: Okay. So the electrodes connect Charles to the transmitter on the roof. When he picks up a mutant, his brain sends a signal through a relay. And then the coordinates of their location is printed out here.Raven: You designed this?Hank McCoy: Yeah.

[as Charles puts the Cerebro on his head]Erik Lehnsherr: What an adorable lab rat you make, Charles.Charles Xavier: Don’t spoil this for me, Erik.Erik Lehnsherr: No. I’ve been a lab rat. I know one when I see one.Hank McCoy: Okay. Great. [checking the Cerebro on Charles’s head]Hank McCoy: Are you sure we can’t shave your head?Charles Xavier: Don’t touch my hair!

[referring money Erik paid her to perform for them]Angel Salvadore: You know it counts double for both, right?Charles Xavier: Mmm. No, that won’t be necessary. Although I’m sure it would be magical.Erik Lehnsherr: We were thinking more, we’ll show you ours, if you show us yours.Angel Salvadore: Baby, that is not the way it works around here.[Erik snaps his fingers and the ice bucket with the champagne bottle floats towards him]Erik Lehnsherr: [to Charles] More tea, vicar?Charles Xavier: Don’t mind if I do.Angel Salvadore: My turn.[she unhooks the back of her top to reveal her wings; Erik and Charles look at her in amazement]Charles Xavier: How would you like a job where you get to keep your clothes on?

[as Erik and Charles get in the back of his cab]Darwin: Where to, fellas?Erik Lehnsherr: Richmond, Virginia, please.Darwin: Right. So you want the airport? The station? What?Charles Xavier: No. We were rather hoping you would take us all the way.Darwin: That’s a six hour dive.Erik Lehnsherr: That will give us plenty of time to talk.[using his power Erik moves the cab meter]

Charles Xavier: Can’t stop thinking about the others out there. All those minds that I touched. I could feel them. Their isolation. Their hopes. Their ambitions. I tell you, we’ve started something incredible, Erik. We can help them.Erik Lehnsherr: Can we? Identification, that’s how it starts. And ends with being rounded up, experimented on. Eliminated.Charles Xavier: Not this time. We have common enemies. Shaw, the Russians. They need us.Erik Lehnsherr: For now.

Raven: We should think of code names. We’re government agents now, we should have secret code names. I wanna be called Mystique.Sean Cassidy: Damn! I wanted to be called Mystique.Raven: Well, tough! I called it.[she turns herself into looking like Sean the others shriek with surprise]Raven: And I’m way more mysterious than you.[the others clap]

Raven: Darwin, what about you?Darwin: Well, uh…Darwin’s already a nickname. And you know, it sort of fits. Adapt to survival and all.

Darwin: What about you?Sean Cassidy: I’m going to be…Banshee.Hank McCoy: Why do you wanna be named after a wailing spirit?Sean Cassidy: You might want to cover your ears.[they all cover their ears as he does a quick whistle like sound which breaks the window]

Angel Salvadore: My, uh…stage name is Angel. It kind of fits.[she turns and reveals her wings]Raven: You can fly?Angel Salvadore: Uh-huh. And, uh…[she spits a fire ball from her mouth which hits the statues outside]

[to Hank]Angel Salvadore: What’s your name?[Hank is too embarrassed to answer]Alex Summers: How about big foot?[the other laugh]Raven: Well you know what they say about guys with big feet? And, uh…yours are kind of small.

Moira MacTaggert: Plane leaves for Russia in an hour.Erik Lehnsherr: I’m telling you, these kids are not ready for Shaw.Charles Xavier: I think they’re gonna surprise you. They’re an exceptional bunch of young people.

[as they approach the CIA quarters they can hear loud music]Moira MacTaggert: What the hell?[they see that Raven and the others are drunk, dancing to loud music and showing off their powers]Moira MacTaggert: What are you doing? Who destroyed the statue?Hank McCoy: It was Alex.Raven: No. Havock! We have to call him Havock. That’s his name now. And we were thinking, you should be Professor X and you should be Magneto.[pointing to Charles and Erik]Erik Lehnsherr: [sarcastically] Exceptional.[to Raven]Charles Xavier: I expect more from you.

[as Charles tries to read her mind she shape shifts into diamond form]Emma Frost: You can stop trying to read my mind, sugar. You’re never going to get anything from me while I’m like this.[as she tries to run away Charles and Erik catch her and bind her arms to the bed posts]Erik Lehnsherr: So then you can just tell us. Where’s Shaw?[using his powers, Erik straps a piece metal from the bed round her throat]Charles Xavier: Erik! Erik, that’s enough![as Erik tightens the metal round her throat]Charles Xavier: Erik, that’s enough![suddenly the metal binding shatters her diamond form]Erik Lehnsherr: All yours. She won’t be shifting into diamond form again. And if she does, just give her a gentle tap.

[as Charles reads Emma’s mind]Sebastian Shaw:[voice over] We are the children of the atom. Radiation gave birth to mutants. What will kill the humans, will only make us stronger.[to Charles as he finishes reading her mind]Emma Frost: Beautiful, isn’t it?[to Erik]Charles Xavier: This is worse than we previously imagined.[to Emma]Charles Xavier: We’re taking you with us. CIA will want to question themselves.Emma Frost: I doubt it. They have bigger things to worry about right now.

[after he’s broken into the CIA quarters where they’re holding the mutants]Sebastian Shaw: Where’s the telepath?Azazel: Not here.Sebastian Shaw: Too bad. Well, at least I can take this silly thing off.[he takes off the metal helmet]

[in the CIA quarters after he’s found Raven and the other mutants gathered by Charles and Erik]Sebastian Shaw: Good evening. My name’s Sebastian Shaw. And I’m not here to hurt you.

[to Raven and the other mutants]Sebastian Shaw: My friends, there’s a revolution coming. When mankind discovers who we are, what we can do, each of us will face a choice. Be enslaved or rise up to rule. Choose freely, but know that if you are not with us, then by definition, you are against us. So, you can stay and fight for the people who hate and fear you. Or you can join me, and love like kings and queens.[he puts out his hand and Angel gives her hand to him]

[as Angel is walking away with Shaw]Raven: Angel?Alex Summers: Are you kiddin’ me?Angel Salvadore: Come on. We don’t belong here. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of.[she turns and walks away with Shaw]

Charles Xavier: We’ve made arrangements for you to be taken home immediately.Sean Cassidy: We’re not going home. Charles Xavier: What?[referring to Alex]Sean Cassidy: He’s not going back to prison.Alex Summers: They killed Darwin.Charles Xavier: All the more reason for you to leave. This is over.Raven: Darwin’s dead, Charles. And we can’t even bury him.Erik Lehnsherr: We can avenge him.